January 15, 2022. In the archives of The First Shot (the CMP’s Online Magazine), SGT Walter E. Craig from the USAMU discusses the importance of physical conditioning for competitive shooters, especially High Power competitors. It is a vital topic that is often overlooked in shooting sports media. We tend to be focused on hardware or the esoteric details involved in cartridge reloading. Physical fitness is important, especially for High Power shooters. Craig recommends: 1) weight training to strengthen Skeletal Muscle Systems; 2) endurance and stamina exercises; and 3) cardiovascular conditioning programs that allow shooters to stay relaxed and controlled with controlled heart beats. The same conditioning philosophy should be applied to shooting. Shooting performance will improve if you use physical conditioning to improve your shooting skills. A personal training program is designed to condition the muscles, heart and lungs and increase the shooter’s ability to control the rifle and body for extended periods of time. SGT Craig recommends that you do some kind of holding drill to help develop the muscles needed to hold a rifle for extended periods of time. Craig recommends a blind-standing exercise for those who have range access. This involves dry-firing one shot, then live-firing one shot at a 200-yard standard SR target. Reduced targets are also possible for those with a 100-yard range. Start the exercise by setting a timer for 50 minutes. Dry-fire one round, then start a live round. Without looking at the impact, you can plot a call in a databook. Continue the dry fire/live-fire sequence for 20 rounds, plotting each round. After firing is completed, compare the data book with the target. If your zero and position is solid, the plots should look like the target. The groups will shrink as you refine your zero and training days.
Holding drills and fitness training are key to helping shooters reach their full potential. John Whidden, 5-time U.S. National Long Range Champion, is shown here. Training for older shooters
Tom Alves has written a great article, A Suggested Approach for Older Shooters. This article will discuss low-impact training methods that are appropriate for older shooters. Tom explains that “many of the articles in books about position shooting, like the one above, are geared more towards younger shooters in their 20s.” You will see a lot of people in their 30s and 40s at high-powered matches these days. Many people in this age group have suffered broken bones and joint wear, so a training program must take that into consideration. While jogging for extended periods of time for heart and lung conditioning is a good idea for younger people, it might not be appropriate for older people. READ THE FULL ARTICLE BY Tom Alves Similar Posts :Tags: Cardio Training and Fitness Training, Tom Alves Training Seniors, USAMU
